Vargas promoted from Reno; Ray nearing return
PHOENIX -- The D-backs recalled infielder Ildemaro Vargas from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Bo Takahashi to Double-A Jackson.
Takahashi had been called up Sunday to give the team an extra arm in the bullpen, but did not get a chance to make his big league debut before being sent back to Jackson.
Vargas has appeared in 70 games for the D-backs this year, hitting .260 with seven doubles, five homers and 20 RBIs.
Speaking of bullpen arms
Right-hander Taylor Clarke will be shifted from the rotation to the bullpen.
The move seems to indicate that left-hander Robbie Ray (lower back spasms) could return from the injured list in time to start as soon as the team’s final game in Milwaukee next weekend.
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“If it works for Robbie, yes, obviously it’s great,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “If it doesn’t work for Robbie, we still have coverage with possibly Taylor being inserted into that spot as well. Just to give us a little more coverage, a little more length [in the bullpen] and see what that [Clarke’s] stuff looks like coming out of the bullpen. He’s thrown the ball extremely well here.”
Other injury news
• Ray threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and said his back felt good.
• Right-hander Luke Weaver, who is on the injured list with a mild right flexor pronator strain and a mild right UCL sprain, had a 40-pitch bullpen session that Lovullo said was “very aggressive.”
“He’s in a good spot,” Lovullo said.